Jason felt like his insides were turning to jelly. How much could he bluff? “I don’t know why you’re telling me all this. I have no idea why you are fixated on me. I can’t help you. Listen, I have to get back to work. I get paid by the hour. You want to stand here and watch me, that’s fine. If you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to alert the manager and file a complaint. I need this job, so butt out of my life, mister.”

“Listen, kid, everyone knows you and Rosalee are very good friends. The neighbors told us how you went to the house to see her. The chick in the paint department introduced you to Rosalee. You’re making a mistake by not talking to me. I just want to help.”

“I don’t need your help and I don’t want it. Go help someone else. Now leave me alone.”

Dennis shook his head to show his disappointment, but he did walk away. The kid would crack sooner or later. He walked out to the parking lot and reported in to Ted and Maggie, who had been whispering with their heads close together. Dennis was almost inclined to tell them to get a room.

“We need to put a tail on him. Call that guy Snowden. I think I scared him, so he’s going to do something. The thing is, will he work the rest of the day or leave early? I’m thinking he knows he’s being watched, so he is going to finish out the day, then try to give us the slip. He’s a bundle of raw nerves. I’m on my way to the paper now. I don’t think he’s going to do a thing right this moment because he’s too scared. He’s going to try to bluff it out. That’s my opinion, for whatever it’s worth.”

Back in the garden pavilion, Jason was indeed a bundle of nerves. He had to play out the day and act normal. Whatever the hell normal was. He looked down at the watch on his wrist. An hour to go till lunch. Maybe he’d get a brainstorm before then. Maybe he would somehow be able to recruit Stacey Copeland. But if he did that, it would mean one more person would know about Rosalee and Amalie. Crap! Sweat dripped down and into his eyes, burning them. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. What to do? What not to do? Whom to trust? Hell, that was easy, no one!